Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
Published on: June 11, 2012
[Effectiveness and safety of goal directed nurse-led blood glucose control in an intensive care unit: a prospective
F J Carmona Monge1, M Martínez Lareo, S García Gómez
1Unidad de Cuidados Críticos, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Alcorcón, Madrid, España. javier.carmona@urjc.es
Objective:
to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a nurse-led blood glucose control protocol in a medical ICU.
Method:
a descriptive, prospective study was carried out for a period of 13 months. All blood glucose values from patients on insulin therapy for intensive glycemic control were recorded daily.
Results:
A total of 12,677 blood glucose determinations were performed on the 69 patients under glycemic control; 57.9% of the determinations had predetermined study target values for blood glucose (100-140 mg/dl) and 68.8% of the determinations had physiological blood glucose values (80-140 mg/dl); no values under 40 mg/dl were obtained, and only 0.2% were between 40-60 mg/dl.
Conclusions:
For an adequate blood glucose control using intensive insulin therapy, individual management of insulin infusion regimen is essential, adjusted to the characteristics of each patient. A nurse-led intervention has allowed better results to be obtained in comparison with other studies in which different protocols for insulin infusion are used.
Related Concept Videos
Blood Studies I: ABG and VBG
Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)
Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) studies are crucial for assessing the lungs' ability to supply oxygen and remove carbon dioxide, reflecting the patient's ventilation status. They also help understand the kidneys' capacity to reabsorb or...
Glucose Homeostasis: Regulation of Blood Glucose
During fasting, when blood glucose levels are low, the pancreas secretes glucagon. it...
Diabetic Ketoacidosis l: Introduction